Hoping for a treat
CHAMPAIGN — Author Karena LaPlace of Champaign has won a 2019 Author Academy Global Award for her debut crime novel, “Almost.”
A recent trip to the International Literacy Conference in New Orleans introduced me to these two outstanding new picture books.
Tomorrow is Veterans Day, a time when the American populace needs to stop whatever is going on in their chaotic lives and reflect on the sacrifices made by veterans and their families. Whichever war, conflict or tension they took part in, these men and women dedicated themselves to be of ser…
Champaign Public Library
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Graceful and bright
One of the first clues that “A Tangle of Knots” by Lisa Graff (Philomel Books) was going to be an unusual story was the revelation in the first pages that some people are Talented, with a capital “T.”
The cruel wind cuts
Champaign Public Library
Eighth-grader Claire did not pass into the next level of dance classes — and her classmates did. She might lose her second chair alto sax position, and first chair Riley does nothing but insult her. There’s no way she can live up to her big brother Matthew’s reputation in school. Everyone is…
Erin Morgenstern’s debut novel, “The Night Circus,” was a massive bestseller worldwide. It has taken eight years for her second novel, and fans who enjoyed the entrancing world-building and beautifully drawn world of “The Night Circus” will fall in love with “The Starless Sea,” which will be…
Rain clouds furrowing,
Champaign Public Library
October is a big month for archives. It is American Archives Month, Family History Month and, here in Illinois, it is even Illinois Archives Month.
It’s fall conference season. Spending time at the annual Illinois Reading Council conference in Peoria always introduces me to wonderful new books written by Illinois authors. Here are two great ones.
Orson Scott Card has started a new series called "Lost and Found." The first novel shares this name.
What a howling day
Champaign Public Library
A few years ago, I reviewed “The One Man” by Andrew Gross. It remains one of the best historical thrillers I’ve ever read. Outstanding suspense, fascinating historical details and based on a true story, this title continues to be one that I often recommend to others.
Generally speaking, I like my kidlit with unambiguously happy endings, but this week I’m reviewing two books that put me on edge, each in different ways. Considering the Halloween season is upon us, I suppose that is appropriate.
Leaves so crisp and bright.
Champaign Public Library
Provost Andreas Cangellaris expressed full support Thursday for the project first made public a year ago, but he said planners need to continue their consultations with library users, who had plenty of questions Thursday.
If you follow movie — and TV-show — news very closely, you may have heard that Netflix recently announced a television adaptation of Leigh Bardugo’s young-adult novels: the Grisha trilogy (beginning with “Shadow and Bone,” the title of the upcoming show) and the Six of Crows duology.
“The Downstairs Girl” (Putnam 2019) by Stacey Lee is set in 1890 Atlanta, 13 years after Reconstruction has ended.
Orange, red, copper brown
Champaign Public Library
The New York Times best-seller who is set to speak from 7 to 8 p.m. about her latest legal thriller and give away copies of ‘Someone Knows’ to the first 350 people through the doors, which open at 6:30, shared a few of her favorite things with Editor Jeff D’Alessio.
As a reviewer, I’m sometimes sent copies of upcoming picture books. These two books, scheduled to be published in 2020, stood out as being particularly great new stories.
We’re getting to the time of year where Halloween preparations are in full swing. At the library, the horror movies fly off the shelves like vampire bats, and readers creep through the stacks looking for scary stories. Big names like Stephen King and Dean R. Koontz are perennially popular, b…
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